September 2007 Newsletter
Greetings, As students return to school with tales of summer adventures, we've returned our attention to Wisconsin's lack of comprehensive sex education. Although Governor Doyle has rejected federal "abstinence-only-until-marriage" money, many school districts in Wisconsin continue to teach false and misleading abstinence-only programs that censor teachers from discussing contraception. We are committed to improving sex education for all teens and young adults – to empower them to make healthy, responsible decisions throughout their lives. What kind of sex education did you receive or are your kids receiving? Do you have a sex ed story that you would like to share? If so, email it to info@prochoicewisconsin.org. Yours for Choice, 
Kelda Helen Roys
Executive Director
NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin
In this issue: Compassioante Care for Rape Victims Update Students for Choice Kicks Off The Price of Birth Control Rises on College Campuses Welcome Kate Moen to NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin Talking About Choice
Compassionate Care for Rape Victims Update  Thanks to months of grassroots organizing and political pressure by NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin and its coalition partners, Rep. Mark Gundrum, chair of the Assembly Judiciary Committee, finally held a hearing for the Compassionate Care for Rape Victims Bill (SB 127/AB 373) on Thursday, September 6.
Despite having less than 36 hours notice, we filled the hearing room to overflowing with CCRV supporters. The hearing lasted nearly six hours, and our supporters outnumbered anti-birth control opponents by more than 3 to 1. Thank you to everyone who attended! Now we must make sure the Judiciary Committee recommends the bill for passage without amendment, so that it can go to the full Assembly for an up-or-down floor vote. Speak out! Don’t let the bill get stalled again! Send a letter to the members of the Assembly Judiciary Committee and ask them to pass the Compassionate Care for Rape Victims Bill. Click here to be sent to our take action page.
Students for Choice Kicks Off  NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin's campus organizations have some exciting plans for the semester. They are going to continue our grassroots lobbying effort to pass the Compassionate Care for Rape Victims Bill, complete a pharmacy access survey in their county and inform young women about the Medicaid Family Planning Waiver.
Join our campus organizations as they kick off the new semester! UW-Eau Claire Students for Choice
4 p.m., Thursday, September 20 - Brewer 55, Women's Studies Office UW-La Crosse Students for Choice
9 p.m., Wednesday, September 19 - 259 Cartwright Center UW-Madison Students for Choice
6 p.m., Wednesday, September 19 - Memorial Union TITU 7 p.m., Thursday, October 4 - Fireside Lounge UW-Oshkosh Students for Choice
8 p.m., Monday, September 17 - Reeve Union 213 UW-Stevens Point Pro-Choice Alliance
4 p.m., Tuesday, September 18 - CNR 372
The Price of Birth Control Rises on College Campuses  A new federal law has caused birth control prices to soar on college campuses and at family-planning clinics nationwide. In Wisconsin, we've seen prices go from $7 to $35 or more every month – a dramatic increase.
Previously, drug companies made contraceptives available to university health services at a discounted price, but due to a change in federal law, they lost the incentive to continue ensuring access for students and other low-income individuals. Luckily Wisconsin women have the option of receiving birth control as part of the Medicaid Family Planning Waiver. The program covers basic preventative reproductive health care for women who earn less than about $1,365 a month themselves. (Parental income is not counted.) To find out if you are eligible or to apply for the Family Planning Waiver online, click here. Or you can apply for the waiver at your local Medicaid office; call 1-800-362-3002 to find the Medicaid office in your area.
Welcome Kate Moen to NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin We are very excited to add Kate Moen to the NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin team as our development associate. Kate brings excitement, years of political experience and a passion for women's health. Kate recently graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee with a degree in political science and women's studies. During the fall 2006 election, she was the Milwaukee and Southeastern Wisconsin Finance Assistant for Fair Wisconsin. Kate was the Milwaukee student organizer for the Kerry/Edwards campaign in 2004 and Kathleen Falk and the Doyle/Lawton campaign in 2002. She has even worked in politics abroad as a grassroots organizer in Ireland. Welcome Kate by making an online contribution to NARAL Pro-Choice Wisconsin today. Just click here.
Talking About Choice Learn how to articulate your pro-choice values. In each newsletter, we will present a typical anti-choice statement, and show you how to effectively respond with the pro-choice facts! Anti-Choice Myth: Teaching kids about birth control gives them the message that it is okay to have sex. We need to have abstinence-only programs. Pro-Choice Fact: Sex education should teach kids about abstinence, but we also need to give teens accurate information about how to prevent pregnancy and protect against HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases. Abstinence-only programs endanger teens by withholding crucial information about contraceptives. Teens who learn about contraception in school have a lower rate of sexual activity than teens who are not given this information.
| 
